Photographic apparatus



Feb. 28, 1939. J, w HENDERSON 2,148,620'

PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Filed Jan. 25, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Feb. 28, 1939. J. w HENDERSQN 2,148,620

PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Filed Jan. 25, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 28, 1939 PATENT OFFICE PHOTOGRAPIIIC APPARATUS James W. Henderson, Park of Edgewater, N. Y.,

asignar to himself and Rudolph Hallensleben, Beechhurst, N. Y., jointly kApplication January 25, 1937, Serial No. 122,205

ZCIaims.

This invention relates to a photographic apparatus.

One object of the invention is to provide an easily portable photographic apparatus, having re-inforced walls and having inside thereof a complete assembly of instrumentalities with which to photograph subject matter disposed under the upper wall of the casing oi the apparatus.

A further object is to provide in such an apparatus a means for simultaneously closing a circuit, exposing a section oi iiim by opening a shutter and locking a film roll so as to avoid a double exposure, all by the operation of a single actuating element.

A further object is to provide a locking means for a film roll which is actuated by the circuit closing actuating means, and which will remain locked until actuated by a film winding actuating means.

A further object is to provide an unlockingdevice actuated by the film winding element of the invention.

A further object is to provide a film roll of multiple parts which are easily separable by a slidable action and which will easily receive the reduced tip end of a iilm.

A further object is to provide a braking element on a roll of lm to prevent slack or buckling' of the lm, or in other words, to maintain the iilm under a tension.

The invention consists of the construction, combination and arrangement oi' parts, as herein illustrated, described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, is illustrated a form of embodiment of the invention, in which drawings similar reference characters designate corresponding parts, and in which;

Figure l is a vertical section, taken approximately on line i-l of Figure 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrow;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic plan View, with the top or cover of the casing removed;

Figure 3 is a vertical section, taken approxi-V mately on line I-I of Figure 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow, and showing the position of the parts when the apparatus has been actuated to open the shutter, close the switch and iock the iilm roll against rotation;

Figure 4 is a vertical section, taken approximately on line I-l oi' Figure 2, showing the position of the parts after an exposure has been made and the shutter closed and a part of the actuating mechanism locked so that another exposure cannot be made until the fllm locking means has been released in order to prevent a double exposure;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail in vertical section, taken through the walls of the casing and the film roll, and showing the film and locking device just after its actuating mechanism is released to be returned to a normal position;

Figure 6 is a side elevation partly in section of the-nlm roll; and,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary detail in perspective of the end of the film roll which eo-operates with its rotating mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, 8 designates generally a light-prooi? casing, preferably of metal, having an inner wall of ply wood or similar light and shock-proof material; The casing 8 is made of a thin sheet metal construction for strength, and an inner wall B thereof is made of ply wood vfor the purpose of resisting shock and of re-inforcement, and to provide a means for attachment of securing devices for several of the moving parts, the entire construction being designed for strength and extreme lightness so that the construction is readily portable.

The casing described is provided with an open-f ing I0 in its upper wall oi' a suilicient size to encompass a large sheet such as a page from a newspaper and is covered by a glass II or other transparent medium to form a surface upon which the page to be photographed may be disposed. A portion I2 of the outer casing 8 is hinged at l2 and attached thereto is a pad i3 of felt or similar material so that when the sheet to be photographed is placed on the glass Il and the hinged section I2 of the top s lowered the sheet to be photographed is smoothly held in position and light is completely excluded from the outside.

An operating button i4 is disposed against one 40 vertical wall of the casing 8 adjacent one oi' its ends and is mounted on the outer end of a roekable shaft I5 which projects through both walls of the casing and bears at its inner end an extension or arm I6. The free end of the extension I6 is pivoted to a link Il, the opposite end of which is pivoted to one end of an actuating member I8 which is slidably disposed in a guide I9 secured to the inner face of the ply wood wall 9 to provide a construction which may move the actuating member I8 longitudinally of the casl.

ing 8 by rocking the button Il.

In the upper face of the actuating member I8 is formed a notch 20 disposed in the path of movement of a pivoted pawl 2l which may be secured to tnewau s or to the guide is which may be secured to the wall 9. The pawl 2I is normally maintained ina depressed position by .a leaf-spring 22, the tension of which may be slidable member 23 is a blocklor cam 24 so disposed as lto ride underneath the pawl 2| when the second actuating member 23 is retracted and the tension of the spring 22 overcome to unlock the actuating member I8 and permit the retraction of the second member 23.

Extending. upward from the second slidable member 23 intermediate of its ends is a vertical extension v25, carrying on its upper end a horizontal plate 26 on which are disposed indicia 21 to indicate the position of the parts as being exposed or set for an exposure. An opening 28 is in the top wall 9 of the casing 8 to permit the indicia being read by the operator. A spring 29 exerts a normal pressure to retract the actuating member I8 when the button I4 is operated.

To perform the same function on the second slidable member 23, a pawl 30 is pivoted in the path of movement of the second slidable member 23 and by means of a spring 32 the second slidable member 23 may be retracted, when unlocked as hereinafter described, and thus show the indicia 21 through the opening 28 to indicate that the apparatus is set or, as an alternative, contains an exposed section of illm.

Carried on the forward endrof the second slidable member 23 is a thin, nat resilient member 32, preferably formed from a thin strip of metal which has a twisted section 33 intermediate of its end formed with a shoulder or detent 34 and provided with a forward extension 35 lying in the plane of the main body of the member 32.

The extension 35 is formed on the forward end of .the member 32 so as to project through an opening. 36in its path of movement, and formed in an inner wall 31 disposed adjacent one end of the casing 8 and extending from one of the side walls of the casing .to the other and from the top wall to the bottom wall thereof. The wall 31 is adapted in part to support .the lightproof box hereinafter described, and with the inner wall 9 at one end of the casing 8 to form a compartment for the reception of thelm and its winding mechanism. Onthe inner face of the wall 31 and partly projecting over the opening 36 is disposed a at plate or detent 38, the lower edge of which is adaptedV to engage behind the shoulder 34 of the member 32 whenthe parts are in the position shown in Figures 3 and 4, that is to say, when the lm is locked against movement.

'Ihe rst slidable actuating member I8 is provided with a downward extension 39, the lower end of which is pivoted to one end of a link dil, the other end of which link is pivoted to a lever II which in turn is pivoted at i2 intermediate of its length to permit a rocking movement vwhen the actuating' member I8 is moved backward or forward. It will be understood that the constructions described are very light and delicate and are supported from the inner ply wood wall 9 without having any parts projecting from the outer wall 8. It will thus be seen that the plywood wall 9 performs the dual function of reinforcing against shock and forms a support for the movable partswithout having to use rivets or pins projecting beyond the outer surface of the casing.

Intermediate of its ends the lever 4I is pivoted to one end of a. link 43, the opposite end of which is pivoted to the blade 44 of a. switch 45 disposed in an electric circuit 46. Included in the electric circuit 46 is a plurality of lamps 41 disposed at the rear end of the casing 8. To support the lamps 41 a shelf 48 is secured to the inner wall of the casing, and partly masking the lamps 41 there is a vertical wall 49 secured to the shelf 48 so that the direct rays from the lamps 41 do not strike the shutter and reector hereinafter described.

A second lamp 56 is included in the circuit 46 and is disposed on the wall 31. lConnected with the lower end of the lever 4I is a double toggle 5I rockably supported on or operable by a rod 5Ia, carried by the inner wall 9 (shown best in Figure 2). The lower end of the toggle 5I is connected to a shutter 52 adapted to mask or closet the inner end of a tube 53 disposed at the rear end of a, dark box 54, the opposite end of which is open, and over the open end of which passes the lm hereinafter described. The shutter 52 is suitably mounted, for a rocking movement as best shown in Figures 3 and 4.

Disposed opposite the inner end of the tube 53 is an inclined reector 55 which by means of a universal joint 56 is carried ona standard 51 secured to the bottom wall 9 of the casing, and is adapted to reect -th'e image of the object'to be photographed through the tube 53, and when the shutter 52 is open onto the lm hereinafter described. As best shown in Figure 2 the rear walls 8 and 9 of the casing are hinged as at 58 to permit access to the space between the wall 31 and the rear wall' 9 and to permit the insertion and removal of the lm.

The lm rolls are designed to be easily and readily removed fr om the roll of lm, and to this end comprise two semi-cylindrical sections 59 and 60. The inner faces of these sections 59 and 60 are each formed with an inclined section 6I extending from the opposite ends of the film roll and each is provided with a. plane section 62 extending from the corresponding opposite ends of the semi-cylindrical sections 59 and 60, so as to leave shoulders 63 which maintain the semicylindrical sections 59 and 6U parallel with each other but which 4permits their separation by a relative sliding movement. The section 59 has an abutment 64 at one end to aid in accomplishing the same purpose.

In the sections 60, at one end thereof, is formed aslot 65 adapted to receive a pin 66, adapted to enter a recess 61 formed in the other section 59, so that the section 59 may be slid with relation to the section 69 when desired, but the function of the pin is to maintain the sections 59 and 60 together i ir the purpose of rotation, and winding of the i'llm. When the lm is entirely Wound on the lm roll described-the lm roll can easily be removed by a sliding motion of on'e section 69 with relation to the other section.

One end of the'lm roll described is provided with a shoulder 68. One side wall 9 to the rear of the vertical Wall 31 has secured thereto a bearing 69 adapted to receive the plane end of the lm roll described and to support the same for rotation. The end of the lm roll having the shoulder 68 is 'disposed' in a slot 10 formed in the inner end of a shaft 1| mounted for rotation through the walls 8 and 9 adjacent one end of the casing and behind the vertical wall 31. Secured on the outer end of the shaft 1| is a button 12 by means of which the shaft 1 may be rotated and thus rotate the film roll.

Secured on the shaft 1| and inside of the casing is a notched washer 13 with which is arranged a co-operating pawl 14 which, when itis engaged with the washer 13, prevents the rotation of the shaft 1| and the consequent prevention of rota.- tion of the film roll. 'I'he pawl 14 is pivoted at 15 to a portion of the wall 9 and is normally maintained in its downward position by a spring 16 also carried by the wall 9. The free end of the pawl 14 is provided with a downward extension 11 which in turn carries a light, iiat spring 18 bearing on its free end a release block 19, the upper face of which is curved so that in its upward movement the block 19 will ride from under the face of the extension 35 of the member 32,

When the button 12 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow, the pawl 14 is released and carried upward against the tension of the spring 15, permitting the block 19 to ride from under the end 35 of the member 32 and without disengaging its shoulder 34 from the detent plate 38. After rotation of the notched washer 13 and the pawl 14 is again rocked downward by the spring 16, the block 19 by the action of the spring 18 is carried outwardly from the washer 13 so that when the pawl 14 is rocked downwardly again, the block 19 will strike the upper surface of the extension 35 and the resiliency of the member 32 is overcome, so that the notched shoulder 34 is disengaged from the detent plate 38 and the movable parts connected therewith resume their normal position, v

The film 80 used may be of the ordinary type having a' pointed end which may be inserted into the opening left between the film roll members 59 and 6|), the abutting shoulders 63, forming a guide for the insertion of the film until it is rolled on the film roller. For the purpose of preventing looseness in the lm by reason of the film not being properly wound, and for the purpose oi'v preventing slack, a hinged,brake member 9| is secured to the wall 31 adjacent'its lower end, and under the tension of a spring 82 the brake member 8| is forced against the roll of film.

It will be understood that any suitable lenses may be inserted in the tube 53.

A cycle of operation of the apparatus may be described as follows:

'I'he object to be photographed is placed on the glass cover and the hinged cover I3 is closed down on the same. The parts being in the position shown in Figure 1 the button |4 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow and turned through an arc of 90 degrees, overcoming the tension of the spring 29 and actuating the slidable member |8, carrying with it the second slidable member 23 and forcing it to the position shown in Figure 4, where it is retained by reason of the detent plate 39 engaging behind the shoulder of the flexible metallic member 32.

The extension 35 at this time engages the curved surface of the block 19 and locks the pawl 14 with the notched washer 13 and prevents further rotation of the iilm or the danger of a double n exposure.

When in the first step of operation as described the parts then assume the position shown in Figure 4, so that the pawl 2| engages in the notch 20 and the member I8 cannot be further actuated until the parts are released. The operation of the actuating member to the right-hand rocks the lever 4| and causes the closing of the switch 45 through the link 43, and at the same time through the toggle opens the shutter 52. Thus it will be seen that simultaneously the film is locked, the shutter is opened, and the circuit is completed so that light is thrown against the page to be reproduced. The image of the page is reflected by the inclined reflecting surface 55 through the tube 53 and to the film 80.

When the button 4 is operated in reverse direction the slidable member |8 assumes its normal position, the shutter 52 is closed and the switch 45 is again opened.

Inthe meantime, the member 32 is held against retraction by reason of the detent plate 38 being still engaged behind the shoulder 34. When the button 12 is rotated the pawl 14 is carried upward against the tension of its spring 16 and the curved surface of the block 19 rides from under the extension 35 and the block 19 is carried in a direction away from the film roll and under the tension of its spring 1B is forced downward against the extension 35 unlocking the member 32' which is of flexible metal, so that the tension of the spring 3| rocks the pawl 30 and forces the second slidable member 23 towards the left-hand, so that the block 24 rides under the pawl 2| and releases it from the notch 20, so that thev slidable member I8 may again be operated.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a photographic apparatus, a casing, iilm rolls mounted in the casing, one of which is pro- 'vided with a recess, a spring pressed pawl disposed to engage in the recess, a resilient member on the pawl, a head on' the resilient member, a plurality of slidable members, a retaining element having an opening therethrough and a resilient member carried by one of the slidable members having a shoulder thereon and arranged to project through the opening and to contact the head.

2. In combination with a film roll, a pawl disposed to engage with the roll, a resilient member carried by the pawl, terminating in an inclined surface, a resilient detent disposed in the path of movement of the inclined surface, and means for moving the detent into the path of movement of said surface and holding the same in position to be struck by movement of the pawl.

JAMES W. HENDERSON. 

